58^ 





Book G7L'S 



The Early Outposts of Wisconsin 



A /\t/><;r re.td before the State Historical Society of Wisconsin^ December 26, 1872. 



Green Bay for Tavo Hundred Years, 

1639— 1S39. 



By DANIEL S. DURRIE, Lihrariax. 



INTRODUCTORY. 

Tlic object of preparing the following 
papers on two of the carl}- outposts of 
AVisconsin.has been to collect and preserve 
in a convenient form the leading events 
that have taken place in this section of 
country, from the earliest known period 
to a comparatively modern date. It is 
proper, as well as instructive, to be ac- 
quainted wnth events which transpired 
when our countr}' was in its infanc}', that 
we may learn to realize the progress of 
civilization and enterprise. 

The first European visitor to tlie " Bayes 
des Puants," the present Green Bay, came 
in 1039, nineteen years after the emigra- 
tion of the Puritans, in the " ^layllower," 
to America. Charles I was then King of 
England, and had begun the war against 
Scotland; and three years after the great 
civil war and revolution in Great Britain 
broke out between the Cavaliers and 
Roundheads. Louis XIII was King of 
France, and had nearly closed liis reiyn, 
Mhen the event above alluded to took 
place. All of Europe was more or le>s 
in commotion at this period. The French 
government had early manifested a dis- 
position to extend her conquests in Amer- 
ica, and as early as 1604, had colonized 



Acadia. In 1608, Quebec was founded, 
and in 1663 Canada was made a royal 
colony. 

The large profits arising from the sales 
of furs and peltries brought from Canada, 
including the nations residing on the 
great chain of lakes of the Northwest, in- 
duced manj- of the nobility and gentry of 
France to advance their fortunes in the 
new world ; and the business transacted 
by these traders with the Indians, was 
very lucrative. 

The Jesuit Fathers,ever anxious to carry 
the news of the Gospel to unknown coun- 
tries, early became impressed with the 
importance of extending their labors to 
the Indians on the great lakes, and as 
early as 1660, had established a mission 
on the south side of the western extremity 
of Lake Superior, at a place called Che- 
go ime-gon ; and in 1669, Father Allouez 
organized a mission at Green Bay. To 
the Jesuit Fatlicrs this country is indebt- 
ed for the first reliable information of 
the wealth and resources of the great 
Northwest ; and the labors performed by 
them, which were veiy arduous, and in 
which many lost their lives by privations 
and cruel persecutions, were carried for- 
ward in the praiseworthy desire to Chris- 



Wis H!«t, So«. 



2 



tiauize the Indian races; and while thus 
engaged, the reports of their journeyings 
^Jansmitted to the Superior of the Order 
-■at Quebec, and which were published in 
France, directed attention to the resources 
X)f New France, of which Wisconsin 
formed a part. Since which time, great 
changes have taken place ; France lost her 
;power, and it was given to England, 
•which nation in due time relinquished it 
to the United States. Our State has been 
under the jurisdiction of Virginia, attach- 
ed to the Northwest Territorj-, tlie States 
of Indiana and Michigan; and the cities 
.of Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, from 
^being frontier towns, and in the midst of 
ixn Indian country, are thriving and grow- 
ing j^laccs of of business, the former with 
a papulation (1870) of 4,0G1, and including 
Fort Howard G,083, and the latter of 2,700. 

GREEN BAY. 

1639 It is now generally conceded by 
all w-riters on early American history, that 
the first reliable information we have of 
tlie topography and the people residing in 
the vicinity of Green Bay was derived Irom 
the Sieur Jean Nicollet. 

Til is enterprising explorer came to Can- 
ada in 16ol. After acquiring a knowledge 
of the Algonquin tongue, he was sent to 
make a treaty of peace with the Iroquois, 
in which he Vas successful. He was for 
eight or nine years with the Nipissings, 
and became almost an Indian himself, 
though a zealous Catholic. After the re- 
storation of Canada to the French, he was 
made interpreter and commissary of tlie 
•colony, which office he filled till about 
1G39, when he was sent to Green Bay, 
where he met some four or five thousand 
men, and concluded a peace with them. 
In this year he ascended Fox river to tlie 
portage, and embarked on a river flowing 
west (the Wisconsin), and penetrated 
further in those unknown coun- 
tries than any previous discover- 
er. Father Vimont says that 
had he sailed three days more on a great 
river which flows from the Lake, (Green 
Bay) he would have found the sea. It is 
generally presumed that he mistsok for 
the sea, the Indian words "Great Water," 
•applied to the Mississippi. 

This enterprising adventurer while on a 
benevolent mission to rescue a poor Abe- 
naqui from the Algonquins lost his life by 
the capsizing of his boat, Oct. 31, 1642. 
The names and localities as well as the 
races and languages of the Wisconsin 
tribes were learned by him from actual 
observation ; and this information was the 



l)asis on which the subsequent cflbrts of 
tlie Jesuit Fathers were put forth. 

1039-1642. We find no accounts of ex 
plorations in this section in this interval 
of time. The nations in this locality were 
generally known as the "Puants" or 
"Stinkards" — not from any peculiar odor 
peculiar to tlieni, but because they resided 
at the shores of a sea far distant to the 
West, the waters of which being salt they 
were called "tlie people of the stinking 
water." Fatiier Mnrqitette says: "This 
Bay bears a name which has not so bad a 
meaning in tlie Indian language, for they 
call it rather Salt Bay than Fetid Bay, -al- 
though among them it is almost the same, 
and this is the name they give to the sea. 
This induced us to make very exact re- 
searches to discover whether there were 
not in these parts some salt springs, but 
we could not find any." In 1642 the 
Iroquois war broke out in all its 
fury, which proved fatal to all efl'orts 
to Christianize these tribes, though the Je- 
suits were anxious to establish missions 
among them. Mr. Bancroft remarks,"The 
French were looiiing towards the liomes 
of the Sioux in the Valley of the Missis- 
sippi five years before the New England 
Eliot had addressed the tribes of Indians 
that dwelt witliin six miles of Boston har- 
bor." 

1654. Father Le Mercier writes to his 
"Superior" at Quebec "that at tlie islands 
of the lake of the people of the sea, known 
as 'Stinkards,' there are many tribes 
whose language closely resembles the Al- 
gonquin, and that they are only nine daj's 
journey from the Great Lake; and that if 
any person would send thirty Frenchmen 
into that country, not only would they 
gain many souls to God, but would re- 
ceive a profit above the expenses incurred, 
because the finest peltries come in from 
those quarters." 

1655. Rev. Jean de Quens writes "That 
of the nations of the sea known as the 
Stinkards, one of them numbers GO vil- 
lages, another 40, and another 30. He was 
told that 300 men met at one assembly for 
the purpose of making a treaty of peace ; 
that these nations are constantly making- 
war on the more distant nations." 

Fifty canoes of these Indians visited 
Quebec this j'car, and 30 Frenchmen re- 
turned with them to obtain peltries. Two 
priests also accompanied them. 

1656-1669. We find no record of the 
Jesuit Fathers in this interval, at the 
"Baye," although the mission at Kewee- 
naw, on Lake Superior, was founded. In 
In the year 1669 it wns determined to 
make an efl'ort to establish a mission at 
Green Bay, and on the 3d of November of 
thisl year Father Claudius Allouez left 
Sault St. Marie for this purpose with two 
French companions and two canoes of 



fs ^7 



Potowatomiefi. With groat danger and 
liardship he reached the Day and spent 
tlie winter preaching to the Potawato- 
mics, JMenomonees, Sacs, Foxes an'! ^Vlu- 
nebagoes, whom lie found mingled tlierc. 
He established a mission on tlie Fox 
river at the "Rapidc dcs Peres." He said 
Ills first mass, December 3d, the Festival 
of St Francis Xavier, and called theMuis- 
sion by his name, at which six Frenchmen 
at the Bay joined in the devotions with 
the Father and his two companions. In 
September of this year he was joined by 
Father Marquette. Allouez writes that 
he found here only one village comprising 
four nations, containing about GOO souls, 
and says all these nations have their fields 
of Indian corn, gourds, beans and tobacco, 
and saw clouds of swans, bustards and 
ducks. 

1G70. On the IGtlt of April of this year, 
he began to ascend Fox river, and passing 
two rapids reached Winnebago lake, and 
crossing it came to the river. He visited 
the Outagamics or Foxes and again 
ascended the I'iver. He traversed the 
lake or marsh on tlie Wisconsin, and savs 
it was ii beautiful river running south- 
west, and leads to the great river named 
Mississippi. On the liith of April he saw 
an eclip.se of the sun. The Foxes number 
400 armed men. He subsequently visited 
the Menomonees and W^innebagoes, hav- 
ing learned their language, and of the lat- 
ter he baptized ~) childreu and 7 adults. 
Father Andre was as.sociated with him 
a part of this season. The Superior,Father 
Dabloii came to Green Bay this j'car; 
Andre gathered the children at the Bay 
and taught them to sing and was associat- 
ed with Allouez. This year Nicholas 
Pcrrot, interpreter to a party sent by 
Fallon, Intendant of Canada to search for 
copper mines and to take possession of 
the country for the King of France, pro- 
ceeded to Green Bay to invite the tribes 
to meet St. Lusson at Sault Ste. 3Iarie. 
He passed from Green Bay to the Illi- 
nois by Lake !^[ichigan. 

1G71. The JMissions at the Bay were 
attended by Father Allouez and Andre 
this year, and there do not appear to be 
any unusual events occurring. The former 
applying himself to the nations who are 
removed to the Avoods, and the latter to 
those Avho are on the borders of the Lake 
Puants. The mission had been so suc- 
cessful that in lG7o Marquette stated that 
'•The Fathers" had bai)tized over two 
thousand of the natives. 

Allouez was muiistering to the Pot- 
tawatomies with JJablou ami Marquette 
and the nations, adjoining and during the 
year went up Lake ^lichigan, stopjjing 
at Milwauke<; tiien occupied by 
by the Mascoutin and Kickapoo Indians 
employed, says Bancroft "in confirming 



tlie inlhience of France in the I'Cgions ex- 
tending from Green liay to the head of 
Lake Superior, mingling happiness with 
sullering, and winning endearing glory 
by their fearless perseverance. 

l()7o. The great event of this year, was 
the discovery of the Upper Mississippi. 
In the preceding j-ear the French Govern- 
ment took steps to accomplish this end, 
aud on the 4th ol June the 
French IMinister wrote to Talon then 
Intendant of Canada "as there is nothing 
more important for the colony than the 
discovery of a jiassage to the South Sea, 
his Majesty wislies you give it your at- 
tention." Joliet Avas appointed to this 
work, and Marquette missiouark'. In the 
spring of lG7o they embarked in two frail 
Ijarlc canoes and arrived at Green Bay June 
7th, lG7:j. The jiarty of ssven French- 
nu'u and two IMiaiui guides, passed up 
the Fox river to the Portage, (twenty- 
seven hundred paces,) and crossed over to 
the Wisconsin and slowly sailed down 
its current amid its vine-clad isles and 
its countless sand-bars. No sound broke 
the stillness; no human form appeared 
and at last alter sailing seven days, on 
the 17th of June, they happily glided 
into the great river. After an absence of 
four months, JIarquette retured to Green 
Bay by way of Lake Jlichigan, having 
travelled, as nearly as can be calculated, 
2,.j40 miles. 

1G74. The missions went steadily on. 
Father Louis Andre directed at St. Xavier 
his little church of ."iOO Christians. His 
house at Green Bay had been burnt but 
he still persevered livingalmost constantly 
iu his canoe and going from station to 
station along the Ba}', visiting the six 
tribes of his parish. On the 25tli of Octo- 
ber, Marquette, who had recovered his 
health which he had lost in his journey 
to the ^Mississippi, set out from Green 
Bay for Kaskaskia with two assistants. 
Tht'v coasted along the shore of Lake 
Michigan. On the 2;]d of November his 
malady had returned, but he succeeded in 
reaching Chicago river on the 4th of De- 
ceml:)er. After wintering in that vicinity, 
he reached Kaskaskia on the (!th of April, 
1075. This distinguished explorer died 
soon after, and was buried on the eastern 
shore of Lake Michigan. 

1G7.'3-G. In the year 1G76 the venerable 
Father Chariot Albanel, became Superior 
of the Western Missions, and took up his 
post at Green Bay, where again a fine 
church was soon raised by tlie Bapidedes 
Pere, partly by the aid of Avestern traders, 
and among other of Ifichol((.<i Ferrott, 
Avell known as an early western explorer. 
The Illinois Mission having become va- 
cant by the death of Marquette. Father 
Allouez Avas assigned to that post. :',nd left 
Green Bay October, l(i7(i. 



1677-9. In the year 1679 the celebrated 
explorer, J/. Robert (Javalier DeSalle, ac- 
companied by Henry DeTonty, Father's 
Louis Hemiepin, Memhre and Watteaux 
made a voyage up the Lake in 
the first vessel built above the Falls 
of Niagara, ''The Griffin,'''' and arrived 
at the "Bay of the Fetid," (Green Bay,) 
on the 2d of September. Wliile here he 
collected a quantity of furs, and sent the 
vessel back, which was unfortunately 
shipwrecked. La Salle, with his company 
of seventeen men and priests, continued 
their route, by canoes, to the river of the 
Miami's (St. Joseph's.) The further his- 
tory of this eminent adventurer — of his 
travels and misfortunes on the Lower Mis- 
sissippi are of great interest, but are 
omitted, as foreign to the objects of this 
paper. 

1680. Father Louis Hennepin who ac- 
companied LeSalle, parted with him Feb- 
ruary 29, 1680, and made a journey up the 
Mississippi, and was the first to discover 
the falls, which he named the "Falls of 
St. Anthony, of Padua." After a series of 
remarkable adventuies among the Indian 
tribes he returned to Green Bay by way of 
the Wisconsin and Fox rivers. He found 
here,Frenchmen trading without a license. 
The published narrative of his journeys 
is full of contradictions and misrepresen- 
tations, and while his account of Wiscon- 
sin and the upper country may be 
regarded as truthful, a large part 
of his work cannot be depended upon. 
The Mission at Green Bay was sustained 
this year by Father Enjalran. DcTonty 
established a station here, with a military 
force. 

1683-1684. Le Sueuer came for the first 
time up the Fox river from Green Bay and 
down the Wisconsin to visit the country 
of the Sioux. This j^ear Nicholas Fcrrot 
took command at the post, and the year 
following (1684) Lieut. DuLiith arrived, 
and assumed military occupancy under 
the superintendency of the commandant 
at Mackinaw. While making preparations 
to go to war against the Iroquois, he was 
assisted by Perrot, who was then trading 
among the Foxes, near the Bay, in collect- 
ing allies. 

We find no further accounts of the Mis- 
sion on the Bay. The former opposition 
of Za Salle to the Jesuits, tended material 
ly to injure the missionary cause. Dis- 
sentions among the Indians followed, and 
the French finally lost much of their hold 
on the afiections of the western tribes. 
England had begun to contest with France 
for the supremacy of the northwest, and 
soon we lose all traces of tlie labors of the 
missionaries in this section. 

1685-89. On the 8th of May, 1689, Per- 
ro!', who was then commanding for the 



King at the post of the Nadouesioux, com- 
missioned by the Marquis De Denonvillc 
Governor of Canada, to manage the inte- 
rests of commerce among the Indian 
tribes and people of the Bay dSvS Puants, 
took possession, in the name of the King, 
of the countries inhabited by said tribes. 
The record saj's the papers were signed in 
duplicate, one at the post Ft. Anthony, 
and the other at the Bay. The document 
was signed by Jos. Jean Marest, B. J. N. 
Perrot, Legardeur De Caumont Le Sueur, 
Borie Ouillot, commanding the French in 
the neighborhood of the Wisconsin river 
on the Mississippi, and three others. Per- 
rot, in transacting this business, went up 
the Fox river to the town of the Miamis 
and Mascoutins, descended the Wisconsin 
and up the Mississippi to the Sioux coun- 
try. While at the Bay he presented to the 
mission of St. Francis Xavier an elegant 
silver ostensorium, which was dug up a 
few years since when digging for a foun- 
dation of a new building on the site of the 
ancient mission house. It had his name 
engraved upon it, with the date of the pre- 
sentation, 1686. 

Baron LeIIontan visited Green Bay 
Sept. 29, of this year (1689) and according 
to his statement was entertained in a dis- 
tinguished manner by the Sauks, Potawa- 
tomies and Menomouees and passed up 
the Fox river. He says "This is a place 
of great trade for skins and Indian corn. 
These the savages sell to the Courier de 
Bois. This is the nearest and most con- 
venient passage to the river Mississippi." 
While at the mouth of the Fox river his 
attention was directed to the tides of the 
lake. Marquette and other early explor- 
ers had previously noticed the same. 

1690-1700. We find no record of vis- 
its to this sectioa during these years. 
The trade in peltries was ver)- large and 
undoubtedly there was much business 
transacted in this department. In 1699 
v/e find that the missionary priest, St. 
Cosme left Mackinaw Sept. 14, and on the 
18th arrived oft" the Bay of Puants and 
camped on an island ; but for tear of the 
Foxes who would not sufier any one to 
pass up their river, he took the west 
coast of Lake Michigan arriving at Mel- 
warick October 5. Le Sueur came up the 
Mississippi and on Sept. 1, 1699, passed 
the Wisconsin and proceeded up to St. 
Peter's river. In his first journey, (1693) 
he came from the Mississippi from Green 
Bay and the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. 

1700-1730. During this interval the 
Sauks and Foxes occupying the valley 
of the Fox river had become so exasper- 
ated against the French that tliey cut off 
all communication between the posts on 
the frontier, extending from Detroit on 
the east to Green Bay and Lake Super- 
ior on the west. The numerous acts of 



barbarity in killing and plundering all 
who came within their reach, caused the 
French government to send several expe- 
ditions into the valley of the Fox against 
these nations, viz : hy DeLouvigny, in 171G ; 
DeLignery, 1728; Marin \n March 17130, 
DeVilliers in September of that year. By 
these operations, tliese intractable nations 
were severely punished, and the beautiful 
valley occupied by tliem was brought 
prominently to the notice of the French 
Canadian adventurers. On this his- 
torical fact is founded the claims of 
France to the Green Bay country. For 
further iniormation of these French ex- 
peditions see "Collections of State His- 
torical Society of Wisconsin!" 

In July, 1721, Father Cliarlewix, the 
distinguished historian of New France, 
visited this section in company with Capt. 
BeMontUjnii, who was appointed to take 
charge of the Fort, and makes the follow- 
ing remarks: "we have in the Bay, a 
Fort, which stands on the west side 
of the Outagamies, (Fox river) one half a 
league from its mouth, and before 
we arrive at it, we leave behind on the left 
hand a village of the lakes. The Otcha- 
gras have lately come and seated them- 
selves near us, and have built their cabins 
above the Fort. The missionaiy who is 
lodged near the commandant, (probably 
Father C7irt?'<?o?i, who was at the Fort at 
that time), hopes when he has learned 
their language, to lind them more docile 
than the Sakis, among whom he labors 
with very little success. Their greatest 
fault is stealing. The new commandant 
was received with great demonstrations of 
joy." His attention was also directed to 
the tides. 

In 1726, Amiton was commandant at 
the Fort, and Father Chardon still there. 

In 1728, the war against the Foxes em- 
barrassed the operation of the missiona- 
ries, and from that time, says Dr. Shea, 
"the Ottawa Mission is almost unknown 
till the days of the last Jesuit Missiona- 
ries of the "West." 

Father Emamiel Crcspel, who was al- 
moner to a party of 4,000 Frenchmen, un- 
der DeLignery, in 1728, against the Foxes, 
published a small volume of his connec- 
tion with the expedition, says he arrived 
at the village of the Puants, August 24, 
1728. 

This year (1728) Father Guigmis ar- 
rived at Green Bay, August 8th, and was 
received by the nation of Puants at their 
village, where he found CO to 80 men. He 
proceeded out to the cabin »f the 
Foxes, where he found 200 men on Fox 
river in bark cabins. He then went uj) 
the river to the portage and descended the 
Wisconsin, and from thence proceeded up 
the Mississippi to Lake Pepin. 

1731—174.1. The first permanent settle- ' 



ment of Green Baj', and also of Wiscon- 
sin, was made in the year 174o. Augustin 
DeLanglnde, and his son Charles, left 
Mackinaw in 1745, and migrated to Green 
Bay, where they became the principal 
proprietors of the soil. Tliey settled on 
the east side of Fox river, near its mouth, 
somewhat above and opposite the old 
French post, and near the residence of 
the late Judge J. P. Arndt. They were 
accompanied by M. Souligny, the son-in- 
law of the Sieur Augustin JJeLanglade, 
and his wife. They were afterwards joined 
by Mons. Carron, who had been for more 
than twenty years an Indian trader, and 
some others. Probably some eight persons, 
formed this first colony in Wisconsin. 
Capt. De Velie was in command of the 
small garrison. The little settlement ap- 
peared to have increased very slowly, and 
the troops to have been withdrawn 
at some period after the termination of 
the Fo.x war and prior to the commence- 
ment of the old French and Indian war 
of 1754. Augusle De Langlade con- 
tinued in the Indian trade, and Charles 
De Langlade as Indian agent. 

1745-17(50. In October 1747 we find 
Capt. De Vorchieres (or De Yercher) in 
command and is reported to have had 
good success in quieting the Indians. 
Shortl}- after he was ordered to Lake St. 
Francis. 

In 1754 the Sieur Perrier Marin who 
was then in command made a treaty with 
the Indians, and reported "that he had 
procured repose for them by the peace 
concluded with the Cliristinaux." 

In 1756 Capt. Dumas, (probablj- com- 
mandant,) caused a peace to be concluded 
between the Illinois and the nations at 
the Bay. The French and Indian war 
had now commenced and although ii does 
not appear that it had any special influ- 
ence for good or evil upon the Green Bay 
settlement as it was too far 
remote to feel any sensible 
effects from the operations of the combat 
ants. It, however, opened a new field for 
the enterprising spirit of Charles DeLang- 
lade. In 1755,\vith tlie Ottawas, Chippe- 
was, Menomonecs and other tribes, he 
went for the defense of Fort du Quesne. 
and was a commanding officer. In 1757, 
he served under ^Montcalm, in the capture 
of Fort William Henry, at the head of 
Lake George. The next year, he was at 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and at the 
last great battle that settled the question 
of supremacy, at the Plains of Abraham, 
where his great commander i/c/i^crt/w was 
killed. The sjibsei; uent career of this ear- 
ty settler at Green Ba}% may be found in 
llie "Colleotio;is of the" State Historicat So 
eiety of Wisconsin." 

In 1758, we find that eleven Canadians 
were killed by the Folles Avoinos at the 



6 



Bay. The commandant escaped, and a 
store house was pillaged. 

In 1759, an application was made to Sir 
Wm. Johnson by merchants of Canada for 
tlie confirmation of a grant made by the 
Marquis Vandreuille in 1759, and confirm- 
ed by the King of France in January, 
1760, to Mons. Rigaud and Madame de 
Vandreuille, and afterwards sold by them 
to William Grant. This concession or 
grant was no less than the Fort at La Baye 
des Puants in Lake Michigan with an ex- 
tensive territory over which tlie Grantee 
was to have che exclusive right of trade, 
with liberty to erect houses and to make 
establishments thereon. Tliis grant which 
was made when the French possessions 
were passing from their hands, and 
as a perquisite to a favorite, was re- 
jected by the Government Board of Trade. 
At the close of the war Lieut. Charles de 
Langlade was by the Government of Can- 
ada, September 8, 1760, ordered to take 
charge of and conduct the Canadians un- 
der his command to Mackinaw, the In- 
dians to their villages and forward two 
companies of English deserters to Louis- 
iana. 

176} 2. Captain Balfour and Lieut Gor- 
rel with English troops took possession 
under orders from Captain Etherington, 
October 12, 1761. This was in consequnce 
of the conquest of Canada the previous 
year by the Englisli and Colonial forces, 
and the surrender of Marquis Vaudre- 
ville, Governor General of Canada. There 
was at that time but one family of Indians 
at the village, the others had gone to their 
hunting grounds. Tliey found the Fort 
quite rotten and the stockade ready to 
fall. Captain Balfour left October 14, 
leaving Lieut. James Gorrell with a de- 
tachment of one sergeant and corporal 
and fifteen privates in possession. 

August 12, of this year, we find that a 
delegation of Indians went from Milwau- 
kee to Green Bay to make complaint 
against dishonest traders. 

1763. The British post known as Fort 
Edward Augustus in charge of Lieut. 
Oorrell was almndoned June 25, 1763, du- 
ring a temporary Indian outbreak. 

Sir Wui. Johnson in a communication 
to the Plantation office, dated Nov. 18, 
1763, says "the Menomonees, Folles Av- 
oins, Puants, Saxis and Foxes who live 
on the west side of the La Baye, and near 
the Fort, number in all 1,200 men, and 
that they were at that time in alliance 
with the Ottowa Confederacy, but were 
inclined to the British interests. 

ClLas. De Langlade was re-appointed In- 
dian Superintendent at Green Bay, and 
also reinstated in command of the mili- 
tia. 

On the lOtli of February, of this year, 
the "Treaty of Paris" was held, and all 



New France surrendered to the English. 

1764-1766. The post at Mackinaw was 
re-occupied by the English under Capt. 
Howard this year, but there is no evidence 
that a military post was ever re-establish- 
ed at Green Bay while it remained under 
the Government of Great Britain, nor un- 
til after the war of 1812. 

The celebrated traveler, Capt. Jonathan 
Carver arrived here September 18, 1766. 
There was no garrison nor had the build- 
ing been kept in repair since it had been 
abandoned by Lieut. Gorrel. He found that 
a few families lived at the Fort and op- 
posite to it on the east side of the river; 
there were a few French settlers who cul- 
tivated the land and appeared to live 
comfortably. This distinguished explor- 
er passed up the Fox river to the Portage, 
descended the Wisconsin to the Mississ- 
ippi which he ascended to the Falls of 
St. Anthony and explored a region of 
country, till then unvisited by w^hite 
men. 

1767. Sir Win. Johnson writes to the 
Lords of Trade that that the Indians at 
the Baye are desirous of having the post 
re-established, and saj'S "that it is so well 
situated by by reason of the water com- 
munication with but little interruption to 
the Mississippi, and so well calculated 
for all the Indians west of Lake Michi- 
gan, that it deserves to be taken much no- 
tice of." He also refers to the claim laid 
to that post by a gentleman by the name 
of Grant, in virtue of a purchase of Vau- 
dreuille, and unless some action is taken 
very soon, some difficulties may arise. 

1768—1779. We have but little inform- 
ation of the events occurring for a number 
of years after this date. The place was un- 
der British jurisdiction. There were but 
a few families residing at the Bay with 
their engages, and the business transacted 
was mostly of furs and peltries. Upon the 
breaking out ot the revolutionary war 
Chns. Be Langlade, then fifty-two years of 
age, was persuaded to take an active part 
should his services be needed. This gen- 
tleman had fought gallantly in the French 
and Indian war in the cause of France, 
and at this time was ready to fight for the 
British. It is believed that he was not 
called in open battle during the war, 
though he served in the Indian Depart- 
ment. During this war, nearly all of the 
French and English inhabitants at Green 
Bay, though virtually American citizens, 
were found in the ranks of the enemy. 
The few Americans that resided there 
were at the mercy of the British, and ex- 
posed to their depredations. Some were 
taken prisoners and conveyed to Detroit, 
and some made captive by the Indians. 

1780—1781. In June of this year Capt. 
John Long, an English trader, was sent 
from Mackinaw to Prairie du Chien to 



collect a quantity of peltries left at that 
place in charge of Mons. Langlade. He 
arrived at Green Bay, where lie spent a 
few (lays ; he says he obtained plenty of 
deer, bear, Indian corn, melons and other 
fruit, — that the houses were covered with 
birch bark, decorated witli bows and ar- 
rows and weapons of war. In 1781 a trea- 
ty with the Indians was held at Macki. 
naw, by Lt. Gov. Patrick Sinclair, for the 
purchase of the Island of Mackinaw, 
Green Bay and Prairie du Chien,at which 
treaty Piene Tm Poinfe, a resident of Prai- 
rie du Chien, was interpreter. Three set- 
tlers at the latter place were present and 
saw the goods delivered to the Indians ac- 
cording to the stipulations of the treaty. 

1781—1800. Tlie settlement of Green 
Bay, from its tirst inception in 1745 to 
1785, had made but little progress. Mr. 
Aug. Grignon says "that from his earliest 
recollection, say 1785, there were but sev- 
en families, who, with their assistants and 
employees, did not exceed fift^^-six souls." 

In 1788 an Indian council was held at 
Green Bay, at which time permission was 
given to JuU'en Dubuque to work the lead- 
mines on tlie Mississippi. 

On the 1st of July, 1790, Green Bay 
and Prairie du Chien were surrendered to 
American authorities by the British. 

1782-1810. The earliest mill erected in 
the covinty was by Jacob Franks in 1809. 
He first built a saw-mill and then a grist- 
mill, the latter had one run of stone, 
previous to this time grinding was done 
by hand-mills. In 1810 Pierre Grignon 
erected a small grist-mill with a run of 
stone three feet in diameter which, how- 
ever, did not succeed. In 1813 Grignon 
built another mill on Reaume's Creek four 
miles above Green Bay. 

Soon after the declaration of war in 
June, 1813, Col. Robert Dickson, an 
English trader at Prairie du Chien and 
agent, collected a considerable body of 
Indians at Green Bay for the purpose of 
rendering assistance" to the British forces 
in their operations on the great lakes of 
the northwest. At the taking of Macki 
naw by the British, July 17, 1811, we find 
this Col. Dirkaon very prominent, and 
also Capt. Rolette of Prairie du Chien. 
The official report of the surrender of 
that post, shows that 400 Indians of the 
Sioux, Folle Avoines, Puans and Chippc- 
was were engaged in the British interest. 
After the taking of Mackinaw, Col. Mc- 
Kay, of the British army, proceeded west 
to Green Bay and passing up the Fox 
river and down the Wisconsin with a 
large force of British and Indians and 
captured the fort at Prairie du Chien 
after a desperate resistance. In 1815 a 
United States trading port was established 
at Green Bay, and Col. John Bowyer ap- 
pointed Indian agent. 



1810. On the IGth of July of this 
3'ear Col. John Miller commenced the 
erection of Fort Howard with the troops 
which had arrived. He subsequently re- 
turned to Mackinaw leaving Col. Talbot 
Chambera in command. Tiie only survi- 
vor of those who came here with the 
troops, is Moses Ilardwick a native of 
Kentucky now nearly eighty years of 
age, residing in the town ot Scott a few 
miles from the city. He came in the first 
American vessel laden with troops and 
supplies in August or September and an- 
chored in Fox river. 

Judge J. H. Lockwood came here in 
July of this year, and says "he found 
forty of fifty Canadians of French ex- 
traction cultivating the soil. The country 
tiien as it was for some eight years fol- 
lowing, was imder military rule, and 
extremely arbitrary. Green Bay was 
then a portion of Indiana territory, Vin- 
cennes being the seat of government. 
American settlers began to CDme in. 
Previous to this year there was ue regular 
physician nearer than JMackinaw. 

Mr. W. 0. Whitford says: "No evidence 
can be found that the Jesuits ever open«d 
a mission school in Wisconsin, before the 
American troops took possession of Fort 
Howard in 1810." 

Jas. W. Diddle, of Pittsburg, Pa., came 
here in October or November. He had an 
interest in a contract for supplying the 
troops. He says, that the settlement was 
a promising and pleasing one, having com- 
fortable houses, with numerous small 
farms, under good cultivation. 

The first child l)orn in this State, of un- 
mixed white blood, was a daughter of 
Matheio Irwin, U. .S Factor, at Green 
Bay, 1810. 

Aug. Grignon, in his "Recollections," 
says, that in 1785 the Bay contained seven 
families, and at the close of the war of 
1813 there had been added about thirty 
Canadians and half-breeds from Canada. 
So that, in his opinion, the total number 
ot men, women and children might have 
reached 150 souls at the beginning of 1810. 

1817. *S'. A. Storrow, Esq., Judge Advo- 
cate in the Army of the United States, 
was sent by Gen. Jacob Drown to visit the 
Northwestern posts, and on the 19th of Sep- 
tember arrived in an open boat at Fort 
Howard. He found Maj. Zachary Taylor 
in command, by whom he w;is kindly en- 
tertained and by the officers of the 3d reg- 
iment. While here he made observations 
on the ebb and flow of the lake tides. 
From Fort Howard he proceeded south 
through the eastern tier of counties of 
Wisconsin to Milwaukee, and Fort Dear- 
born, at Chicago. 

Two young men by the names of Smith 
and Gunn, grandsons of Capt. Jonathan 
Carver, left Green Bay this year in a bark 



canoe for Prairie da C'liieu, hy waj- of tlie 
Fox and Wisconsin rivers, at wiiicli place 
they metMaj. S. II. Lonr/, and proceeded 
with him np tlie Mississippi to the Falls 
of St. Anthony, with a view to establish 
their claims to the lands granted by the 
Indians to their grandfather. 

1818. This j^ear Illinois became a State, 
and the jurisdiction of the frontier settle- 
ments of Wisconsin was transferred to the 
Territory of Ivlichigan, and the counties of 
Brown and Crawford, embracing what 
now constitutes the State of Wisconsin, 
were established and organized by proc- 
lamation issued bj' Gov. Lewis Cass, of 
Michigan Territory, Oct. 20, 1818. The 
following persons were a^^pointed officers 
of Brown county : 

Matthew Irwin, Chief Justice; Cliarles 
Reaume, Berij. Chiltendcn, Associates; 
Bohert Irwin, Jr., Clerk ; George Johnston, 
Sheriff. Mr. R .Irwin, Jr., died in 1833, 
highly respected hj all. His widow and 
family are still residing at Green Ba}'. 

In the summer of this year Wm. Farns- 
icortJi, now of Sheboygan, and Ramsay 
Croo.ks, of the American Fur 
Company, embarkrd in a birch- 
bark canoe from Mackinaw, passed 
up the lake and Green Bay, to the mouth 
of Fox river; thence through the Fox, 
Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers to St. 
Louis. 

Col. Abraham Edwards, of Detroit, ar- 
rived here in May; while here. Inspector 
General John E. Wool arrived. The post 
was in command of Maj. Z. Taylor, John 
BoiDyer, Indian agent. 

1819. A census of the Indians taken 
this year, showed that there were 4,800 in 
tiie Green Bay agency. 

H. R. Schoolcraft, as one of the expedi- 
tion under Gov. Lewis Cass, appointed by 
the Government to visit the North- 
western posts, &c., arrived at Green Bay 
by way of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, 
August 20, 1820. The expedition consist- 
ed of Gov. Cass, Dr. Alex. Wolcott, Capt. 
D. B. Doiifjlas, Lieut. A. McKay, R. A. 
Forsyth, C. G.Troiohridge, A.R. Chase sxnd 
II. R.Schoolcraft. J. Duane Doty, Secreta- 
ry. He says of Green Bay, that there 
were over sixty dwellings and ,iive hun- 
dred inhabitants, occujiying about eighty 
buildings. The Algonquin name of the 
place is Boatchweewaid, a term which de- 
scribes an eccentric or abrupt bay or inlet. 
Of the Fort, he says: "Log Barracks 
facing three sides of a square parade, sur 
rounded by a stockade of timber thirty 
feet high, whitewashed and garrisoned by 
300 men, under Capt. Wm. Whistler, in 
the absence of Col. J. L. Smith ; also that 
there was at Camp Smith, three miles 
above Fort Brown, 300 infantry. Prepa- 
rations were being made to erect a perma- 
nent fortification of stone." He also, like 



many other visitors, notices the tides in 
the lake. The Fort was also visited this 
year by Gen. Jacob Brown, Commander-in- 
Chief of U. S. Armj'. 

Jacques Porlier made application to the 
Indian agent for license to trade with the 
Indians, which was refused. Mr. P. came 
to the Territory of Michigan in 1787, and 
claimed citizenship under the Jay Treat)^ 
His application was confirmed by the 
Government. 

1820. Daniel Whitney, one of the most 
enterprising men of the recent settlers at 
Green Bay arrived, and soon after pur- 
chased a large tract of land on Avhich he 
laid out the embryo city, now constituting 
the second and third wards. His widow 
and family are still residents of the city. 

Isaac Lee was appointed agent, and vis- 
ited Green Bay to collect evidence of 
titles and claims to lands held by the 
French settlers under Jay's treaty, and to 
report them to the United States Commis- 
sioners sitting at Detroit. None were al- 
lowed except such as were occupied in 
July, 1796, and few came within the pro- 
visi*ons of the act of Congress; a subse- 
quent act passed in 1823, made 
provision for donation of all such as 
were occupied July 1, 1812. 

1821. The steamer Walk-in-the-Water 
left Detroit for Mackinaw, and Green 
Bay July 31, 1821, with 200 passengers 
and Government troops, and arrived at 
Green Bay August 5. Among the number 
was Kev. Eleazar Williams, missionary to 
the Oneida Indians with a deputation of 
the Six Nations. Gen. Albert G. Ellis, of 
Steven's Point, Wis., accompanied the 
party and was for a time school teacher 
for the Mission School of the New York 
Indians. 

Difficulties however occurred with the 
Menomonees, who gave the Oneidas their 
land, and nearly ten years were spent in 
negotiations, which were concluded in 
1832, and soon after the most of this band 
and apart of the St. Ilegis band removed 
and settled in Wisconsin. 

Col. PincJcney and Captains Garland and 
Green, of the Third Infantry, arrived in 
June. J. Biddle and II. B. Breroort were 
Indian agents. 

On the 12th of September, 1822, the 
schooner Tiger arrived at Detroit from 
Green Bay with 12,000 pounds of lead, 
transported from the mines, the whole 
distance by water except at the portage. 

Rev. Dr. Jedidiah Morse, the distin- 
guished geographer, arrived here June 7, 
and remained fifteen days with Col. Smith, 
commandant. 

Col. Ebenezer Childs, an early settler, 
arrived May 20, and says he made a trip to 
St. Louis in a birch bark canoe this year. 
The first postoffice was also estab- 
lished, Robert Irwin, postmaster. The 



mail was can'icd from CJrecii Bay to De- 
troit in the winter season by soldiers, and 
generally two mails within six monihs 
were all that were received. 

A Frenchman, named Ulrich, was 
stabbed in October, near Camp Smith, by 
a Menomonee Indian, named Kewdbiskim, 
and another, named Pierre Griguon, was 
murdered near the portage by a Menomo- 
nee. Tlie murderers of Ulrich were 
caught, tried, and convicted at Detroit, 
and sentenced to be hung December 27, 
1821, at which time a Chippewa Indian, 
named Ketaukah, was also liung for the 
murder of Dr. Win. iS. Madison, near 
Manitowoc. 

Father Gabriel liirhards, of Detroit, 
visited the Ba}- this year. He was after- 
wards the delegate of Michigan Territory 
in Congress. 

1823. The Northwestern district of 
Michigan territory was formed, compris- 
ing the counties of ^lackinac, Brown and 
Crawford — the two latter being the only 
counties west of Lake Michigan, and Hon. 
James Duane Doty, was appointed Judge. 
This year the Episcopal Missionary Socity 
established at Green Bay' in connection 
witb the Mission among' the Indians, a 
school of fifty white and halT-breed chil- 
dren on the west side of Fox river. It 
was for several years in charge of Gen. 
A. G. Ellis. 

1824. Hon. llenr;/ S. Baird became a 
resident in July of this year, and still re- 
sides at Green Bay. In "his "recollections 
of the early history of Northern Wiscon- 
sin" says: The grounds around Fort How- 
ard were used mostly for fields of grain 
and gardens. A portion of the present 
town of Fort Howard was used as a 
parade or drill-ground. The garrison con- 
sisted of four companies of the Sd Regi- 
ment of U. S. Infantry, and commanded 
by the late Gen. John McNeil. The set- 
tlement, so-called, extended from Fort 
Howard on the east, and from the premises 
of the late Judge J. P. Ariidt, on the east 
side of Fox river, to the present village 
of Depere. a distance of about six miles, 
and beyond Depere, south or west, tliere 
was no white settlement, with the excep- 
tion of two or three families, until you 
reached Prairie du Chicu, a distance of 
250 miles. There were six or eight resi- 
dent American families, and the families 
of the officers stationed at Fort Howard, 
in number about the same. On the 2;3d 
of August, /. II. Lockicood was admitted 
to practice as an attorney by Judge Doti/, 
the first lawyer in the State. He had pre- 
viously received a commission from tlie 
goverumenf as Prosecuting Attorney for 
the counties of Brown and "Crawford. Tiie 
first term of the U. S. Court was held in 
October of this year, and Hon. R. S. 
Baird admitted to practice, and appointed 



Prosecuting Attorney, 'pro teia. The first 
grand jury of Brown county was empan- 
elled, and found one indictment for mur- 
der, a man named Joice, who was tried and 
convicted of manslaughter, and forty-two 
for lesser ofl'enses. Of tliose who settled 
here this year, Hon. II. S. Baird, Lewis 
Thompson, and their families are now re- 
siding in the city. 

Rev. Eleazar Williams was licensed to 
perform tlie marriage ceremony. 

Judge ./. P. Arndt, before alluded to, 
came here in the fall, and made it his resi- 
dence to his death, thirty years later. He 
was a County Judge and member of the 
Territorial Council. 

1825-1820. At the June term of the U 
S Court 1820, a tavern license was grant 
ed to /. P. Arndt and and ferry licenses ti> 
Arndt &n^ Louis Grignon. From 1824 
to 1828 there were annual sessions of the 
U. S. and county courts with little busi- 
ness transacted. Captain W. G. Belknap 
was indicted in 1825 for false imprison- 
ment of /«rt^?c Rouse and fined §50. In 
1827 Solomon Juneau declared his inten- 
tion to become a citizen, and July 15, 
ISol a certificate of naturalization was 
granted him. Hon. M. L. Martin admit- 
ted as attorney 1827. 

Col. W. S. 'Hamilton arrived at Green 
Bay on the 28th of June, 1825 with a drove 
of cattle he had contracted with the gov- 
ernment to deliver at the Fort. He found 
]\Iajor Wliistler in command and Colonel 
Brccoort, Indian agent. 

Col. E. Childs says he built the first 
frame house at Green Baj', and also the 
first as he believes In the state, 1825. 

In the year 1825-1828 Judge Doty and 
II. *S'. i>rtm/ traveled from Green Bay to 
Prairie du Chien in a bark canoe, during 
which time there were no white settle- 
ments or inhabitants between the two 
places. 

The Episcopal Cliurch established a 
mission in 1825 under the superintendence 
of Rev. Mr. Nash, but it was discontinued 
in 1827. It was revived in 1829 under the 
care ot Rev. It. Cadle, and again discon- 
tinued in 1837. December 2, 1838, Rev. 
Bishop Kemper conseci-ated a church at 
Duck Creek erected by Oneidas the funds 
received from the government and the 
follov.-ing year Rev. Solomon Davis was 
placed in charge. 

Gen. Lewis Cass and Col. T. L. M'Kcn- 
ney. Commissioners appointed to treat 
with tlie Indians at Butte des Morts, met 
here. 

J. II. Fonda of Prairie du Chicu was 
here at the same time. He says : "That 
there were seven or eight hundred persons 
here, from the native Indian to the sons ot 
Africa, and of ail shades of color.'' The 
Indian att'airs throughout tiie Territory 
had assumed a threatening aspect. Re- 



10 



ports of murders and disturbances had 
spread througli the settlements. Mr- 
jFbrtrfft at the request of the United States 
Quartermaster, carried the mail to Fort 
Dearborn, tlirough the eastern tier of 
counties. 

During the year 1827, the missionary 
society determined to erect extensive 
buildings for a boarding school in which 
they might educate "children of full or 
mixed blood." Rev. liicJinrd S. Cadle was 
selected to conduct the enterprise, This 
gentleman labored devotedly as teacher 
and Missionary at Green Bay and its vi- 
cinity, and became afterward Cnaplain at 
Fort Howard and at Fort Crawford. The 
buildings which Avere erected in 1829 were 
situated on a high plateau overlooking 
Fox river, and cost $9,000. The institu- 
tion was not a success, and was closed in 
1839. 

This 3'car Judge Arndt built the first 
saw mill on Indian land, with consent of 
the War Department. 

During the j'car a party of men from 
Green Bay, in 1827, came up the Fox river 
to Fort Winnebago, co-operatmg with a 
force of men under General Atkinson in 
boats, and Generals Dodge and White- 
sides, with companies of volunteers com- 
ing from below. The Indians finding a 
formidable army in the midst of their 
countiy, concluded a treaty of peace, and 
surrendered Red Wing, who had a year 
previous massacred a family near Prairie 
du Chien. 

Gen. A. G. Ellis executed at Green Bay, 
this year, the first printing in Wisconsin. 

Judge Gale, in his work on the " Upper 
Mississippi," says the first steamer on 
Lake Michigan was the " Henry Clay," 
which visited Green Bay with a pleasure 
party in August, 1827. 

1828- In "the fall of this year, the fifth 
regiment of U. S. infantry, came in barges 
from St. Louis, iip the Mississippi and 
Wisconsin and down the Fox rivers to 
Fort Howard, Avithout unloading. The 
high Avater enabled them to cross from the 
Wisconsin to the Fox riA-er at Portage, 
tully laden, and to run the rapids of Fox 
river. 

Col. Ebenezer Brigliain., with others, 
visited Green Bay to attend an Indian 
council, in order to settle on certain 
boundaries betAveen the Avhites and Indi- 
ans. The lead region Avas purchased. 

A remarkable case of attempt to mur- 
der occurred at Fort HoAvard. William 
Prestige, a soldier, entered the quarters of 
the notorious D. E. Twiggs, then a Major 
and in command at the post, while he was 
taking his after dinner nap. Prestigewas 
armed with a musket, the muzzle of which 
he put to Twiggs^ ear and pulled the trig- 
ger, intending to be and supposing he Avas 
sure of his victim. The gun misled fire. 



but the click of the lock Avaked Twiggs, 
who sprung up and seized the gun and 
struck his assailant OA^er the head, inflict- 
ing a terrible AA'Ound, fracturing the skull 
and laying him senseless upon the floor. 
Prcdige. had about six months more to 
serve out his enlistment, and Twiggs, in- 
stead of turning him over to the civil au- 
thorities to be tried and punished for the 
oft'ense, detained him a prisoner un- 
der his oAvn control, and subjected 
him to every species of torture he 
could devise. In the following year 
1829 his term of service as a soldier "haA'- 
ing expired, he was indicted, tried, and 
on conviction sentenced to five years im- 
prisonment. The President (Adams) \\\}on 
representations to him of the brutal treat- 
ment to which Prestige had been subject- 
ed by Twiggs, immediately pardoned him. 

A log school house Avas built this j'ear. 
Miss C, Russell taught, andAvas succeeded 
by INIiss F. Sears. 

Fort Winnebago Avas established this 
season by Twiggs. His prisoner Prestige 
Avas kept chained to a tree Avith no shel- 
ter or bedding, and Avithout comfortable 
clothing. 

1829. A Methodist Mission established 
among the Oneidas by a young MohaAvk, 
who had been converted in Canada. In 
the month of May, Judge Dotii, M. L. 
Martin and //. S. Baird left Green Baj' 
on horseback, and traA-eled over the 
country to Prairie du Chien, being the 
first party of white men that had attempt- 
ed and accomplished the journey. 

In October the first public meeting was 
held of the inhabitants of Green Bay. 
Louis Grignon., chairman, M. L. Martin 
secretary, to represent to Congress among 
other matters, the necessity of a road from 
Green Bay to Chicago, and the improve 
ment of the navigation of the Fox river. 

1830. Hon Erastus Root, John T. Ma- 
son and/. [McCall, U. S. Commissioners, 
arriA-ed in August to settle Indian diflicul- 
ties, but did not succeed. The commis- 
sion broke up without accomplishing any 
thing. 

A Catholic Mission school was opened 
by Rev. Samuel Mazzuchelli, an Italian 
priest. The mission Avas aided by the 
Government, out of the annuities paid to 
the Menomonee Indians. 

This year the toAvn of IS'avarino, now 
knoAvn as the north ward of the city of 
Green Bay,"Avas laid out by Daniel Whit- 
ney. 

Co\. Stambaugli, Indian agent, Avent to 
Washington with a delegation of the New 
York Indians, and Menomonees, to settle 
a difficulty betAveen these nations on the 
boundaries of their lands. 

The population of BroAvn countj^ as 
shoAvn by the census report, Avas 1,500. 

Mrs. John H.Kinzie, the author of ' ' Wau- 



11 



bun, the early day in the north w est," ar- 
rived liere in October, at the same time 
when the U. S. Commissioners were as- 
sembled. 

1831-;32.. In 18;U tlie Government pur- 
chased of the Indians the country lying 
between Lake Michigan and the !Mlssis- 
ippi. Fox and AVisconsin rivers. Hither- 
to these lauds, except a narrow strip on 
both sidcfs of the Fox river at (rreeu Bay 
and the reservation of the New York 
tribes, wore owned by the Menomnnecs 
and Winnebagoes. The tardiness of the 
Government in acquiring title to these 
lands was a great drawback to the settle- 
ment and improvement of the country. 

Judge ,/. 1). Doty and Lieut. Ventre^xQve, 
api)ointed commissioners for surveying 
and locating a military road from Green 
Bay to Clucago, and west to Prairie du 
Chieu. 

The year 1833 is memorable, as the 
Black ilawk war occurred within the 
boundaries of our State. Green Bay was 
not particularly aftected, as the Govern- 
ment had made necessary preparation at 
its post at Fort Howard. It is well known 
that Blade Uawk had invited the tribes at 
the Bay to join the confederacy. This 
war for a brief period retarded imigration 
and the settlement of the State. A school 
Avas established at Depere 1832. J. Y. 
(S'wrt/i erected a flouring mill on Hell 
Creek a mile and a half from Fort How- 
ard 1833. Col. Chas. Whittlesey, now of 
Cleveland, O., visited Green Bay, and ar- 
rived here IMay 15, 1832, and stayed till 
September of that year. There was no ar- 
rival of steamers during that time. 

1833. The lirst newspaper published 
within the State was the Green Bay Intel- 
ligencer, J. V. !Siiydam and A. G. Ellis, 
publishers. The first issue was Dec. 11. 

The importance of the injprovement of 
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers w%as realized 
by the people of Green Bay, and a second 
public meeting was held Nov. 10, 1833, to 
memorialize Congress on the subject. 

There were eight murder trials in the 
live j^ears terminating in 1833; three only 
were convicted and executed, all soldiers 
from the garrisons at Fort Howard and 
^Mackinaw. In July Daniel Le Jloy, M. 
L. Martin and P. B, Griejnon explored the 
country from Green Bay south as far as 
Milwaukee. There were only Indian vil- 
lages at Milwaukee, Sheboj-gan, >ranito- 
woc. Waukesha and Fond du Lac. S. Ju- 
neau was trading at Milwaukee. Thej'^ 
were the only whites on the whole route. 

1834. The first mail route from Green 
Bay to Chicago was established, and 
Peter B. G'i{/no/i, now a resident of Green 
liay, was the first contra(!tor. The small 
weekly paper at the Bay used to repeat 
tlie refrain: 



'•Three timcf a week, without any fail. 
At four o'cloclv we look lor the mail. 
Brought witli despatch on an Indian trail." 

•The Wixconsiii Free J^ress was started 
witli 7^. Stevenson, i^ublisher, ./. Dickin- 
son, editor, and Avas continued until pur- 
chased by C. C. Sholes, and merged in the 
Wiscon sin Dcniocroe. 

The i)ublic lands near Green Bay were 
surveyetl this year In' Gen. A. G. Ellis, 
and a United States Land Oftice opened. 

On the l(5th of July, Kev. J)rs. Milnor 
and Kemper arrived in the steamer Michi- 
gan as agents of the Domestic and Foreign 
Missionary Society of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, to visit the Mission 
School. 

Judge Arndt shipped the first cargo of 
lumber from Green Bay to Chicago. It 
was .shipped on Devil iiver at the mouth 
of Hell Creek. It was doubtless "well 
seasoned." 

1835. II. R. Schoolcraft, Indian agent at 
]\Iackinaw, and Geo. W. Featherstonhaur/h, 
United States Geologist, arrived in August ; 
the latter went to Prairie du Chieu by 
water. 

Col.Wm. B. Slauf/hter was api)ointed Re- 
gister, and S. W. Beall Receiver of the 
Public Land office, the former resided here 
from August, 1835, to February, 1837. 

The town of Astor, now known as the 
South Ward of the city, was opened and 
laid out by John Jacob Astor, liamsey 
Crooks, and Robert Stuart on the land 
formerly owned by John Laice and the 
Grignon family, and originally owned by 
the American Fur Company. 

This year the citizens of Green Bay ob- 
tained a charter of the Michigan Legisla- 
ture to build a dam across Fo.x river at 
Depere, by which the navigation of the 
river was much improved. 

Delegates were appointed to form a 
State constitution for Michigan, which 
being etiected left the region west of Lake 
Michigan to be organized into the sepa- 
rate territory of AVisconsin. 

The Legislature of Michigan, by act ap- 
proved January 23, 1835, incorporated the 
Bank of AVisconsin, to be located at 
Green Bay or Mineral Point, as a majority 
of the stockholders should determine. It 
was located at Green Bay, but after doing 
business a short time it was closed up. 

1836. The first session of the Legisla- 
tive Council of Michigan convened at 
Green Bay, at which a memorial to Con- 
gress was drawn up for the formation of 
the new territory of AVisconsin. The 
territorial government was established by 
Congress April 20, 183G, and was fully 
organized July 4, 183G. Gov. Dodoe 
was appointed commi.ssioner to hold a 
treaty with the ^Mcnomonees. The treaty 
was held at Cedar Kapids on Fox river. 
Four millions of acres was ceded to the 



12 



government west and north of Winnebago 
Lake and Fox river, including a strip of 
country tliree miles in width on each 
side of tlie Wisconsin river and forty- 
eight miles in length. 

An act of the Territorial Legislature 
was approved Dec. 9, 1836 to change the 
seat of Justice of Brown county subject 
to the vote of the people. The Wiscon- 
sin Democrat newspaper was first pub- 
lished in August 1880 by //. 0. and C. C. 
Sholes, and was continued two years o 
more. One of its principal objects was 
to promote the improvement of the Fox 
and Wisconsin rivers to open a connec- 
tion with the Mississippi, this says Mr. 
C. G. Shoks was the "(.Treen Bay Hobby," 
and the Milwaukee and Rock river canal 
the "Milwaukee Hobby." At that time 
the prospects of Green Bay as an import- 
ant business point were supposed to be 
superior to Milwaukee. Edward and 
Colwert Pier the two first settlers of 
Fond du Lac arrived here in February eii 
route for tlie latter place. 

H. A. Gallup, an early settler of Osh- 
kosh, arrived here August 5. 

A Congregational church was organized 
Jan. 9 of this year, by Rev. Gutting Marsh 
Avith 12 members. Rev. Mr. Ordicay was 
minister from Oct., 18B(J to March, 1887, 
succeeded by Rev. ,s'. Pect from Oct., 
1837, to Oct., 1839. 

The church building was erected in 
1839, forty by sixty feet, at an expense of 



$3,000. The bell cost $300, and Mas the 
gift of John Jacob Astor, who also con- 
tributed $500 to the building fund. 

The first vessel, the schooner "Wiscon- 
sin," was built by Judge Arndt, 140 tons 
burthen. 

1837. An act of the Wisconsin Legisla- 
ture, approved Dec. 13, 1837, established 
the "Wisconsin University" at Green Bay. 
This was designed to fill the place of the 
mission school of the Foreign and Domes- 
tic Missionary Society of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, for the education of 
Indian children. At the next session of 
the Legislature an act was approved Dec. 
23, .1838, changing the name to "Hobart 
University of Green Bay." 

Capt. Francis Marryat, an English au- 
thor, arrived here, and accompanied the 
commanding officer, Maj. F., with a de- 
tachment of 100 troops, to Fort Winneba- 
go, by land. 

1838. An act was passed by the Ter- 
ritorial Legislature to establish the Bor- 
ough of Green Bay and approved January 
17, and at the same session certain other 
towns in Brown and Crawford counties 
were established. 

As the subsequent history of Green 
Bay is of comparatively recent date, and 
this year completing two hundred years 
since the visit of the first explorer in 1639 
we will here close our chronological nar- 
ative. 



I^OTE.— This paper has received the careful examin.ition of Hon. MoRGA?f L. Maktijt, a resident of 
^early a half a century at Green Ba .-, vho Las kindly furnished additional information, obtained from 
Personal knowledge. 



